I guess the real reason I am asking is that I am considering either the CGE pro or an AP Mach 1. Is the Mach 1 worth ~1800 more? (Considering extras needed for the Mach 1: Saddle plate, Peir, powersupply etc)
AP would be the main interest long term and I really only want to buy just one!

That would depend on how the CGEpro is rated for capacity. The Mach1 in rated for 45lbs in photographic terms. The CGEPro is listed at 90 but I don't know if that is a visual or photo rating. If I were to choose between the two, I would wait for some real world reviews before deciding. And it would still be a difficult choice. Both would handle your C8 without a sweat for either purpose. If you plan to primarily use it for visual, the CGEPro might be a better option..

The only downside I see for the CGE Pro is the weight. It is porky, porky, porky.

The mount head alone is 75#. That's quite an armload to put on and take off the tripod solo in the dark. It's a heavy mount for its rated capacity. Conversely the Mach 1 GTO is a light mount for its rated capacity.

I'm very curious about this mount, but more for a permanent installation with an 8" or 10" long focus achromat.

Personally, I don't think a heavy mount is such a bad thing. Yeah, it's could be a bit much to haul around in some cases, but as with everything, it's about trade-offs.

I heard it said once, don't put more weight on it than it weighs itself. From what I have seen, this is pretty good advice. I put together a list of a whole bunch of mounts once based on this criteria and compared it to what they were rated as.

Top mounts tended to stick close to the 1:1, while some did push it to 1:1.5 or even 1:1.75 (like the CGE for example). Then there are the extreme's like the ASGT where it is 1:3. I think 1:1 is a safe estimate for photo work, and in my experience 1:3 can work prefectly well for visual only. But, a lot of that is based on personal taste as well.

So this new CGE Pro could work quite nicely for a visual load of 250+ lbs. At least in theory based on what I've experienced in the past.

Actually, I never said the CGE was a top mount, but it's certainly proven to be quite a decent one. I believe the ME is actually closer to 70 lbs (68?), and I think it's over-rated slightly at 150.

If you look at the Tak's, the MI (such as the 500 and up), you will see they all stick closer to the 1:1. But, some seem to do fine going higher (like many people's experience with the ME).

250 being optimistic for the CGE pro is I think based on how you are looking at things and what trade-off's are accepted. Is 35 lbs on an AS-GT optimistic? In a lot of ways yes, but they still do it, and in a lot of cases it works ok. I've used worse. Remember, it's a 12 lb mount.

And I think the advice that AP gives always needs to be considered: some tubes are long for their weight and others are heavy for their size. The numbers are just guidelines.

If I take all my scopes, and add, maybe a kitchen sink, I'll be over 95 lbs. If I don't add the kitchen sink, I'll be in the 'middle 2/3 of' the rated capacity.

Sure is impressive, but wonder 'who needs one?'. I know i don't, but then I'm just small fry. My fleeting imression is that folks with $20,000 scopes want at least $10,000 mounts... call it the glam factor or what you you will, but I wonder if this mount has the 'cache' to appeal to the high end high weight crowd?

The CGE Pro is a better choice for the C14 and also puts the cross-hairs on the Losmandy Titan and MI-250. Two birds with one stone - give the C14 a mount that it deserves and pick up a share of the mid-priced heavy duty mount market.

I may sell my 15" Obsession to go for a C14 on the CGE Pro once there are some user reports on the mount. I'm still a bit put off by the 75# mount head. I like to observe solo much of the time. While I can certainly lift the 75# to the tripod cap, I don't think it would be "fun" to do so on a regular basis.

Sure is impressive, but wonder 'who needs one?'. I know i don't, but then I'm just small fry. My fleeting imression is that folks with $20,000 scopes want at least $10,000 mounts... call it the glam factor or what you you will, but I wonder if this mount has the 'cache' to appeal to the high end high weight crowd?

Could be for someone with reasonably priced "large" OTA's that are really just a little to much for a CGE and who doesn't want to buy a Paramount ME.